One of the most asked-for gift guides this year was for toddlers! I'm excited that so many of you asked, because I have some good recommendations in this area. I'm lucky to have nieces and nephews who all have very different personalities, so I get to see what toys some kids love and others don't care about, and which toys seem to be universally loved. That's what today's gift guide is about: The best toddler gifts that they'll play with over and over again. ONE: Mess-free coloring is …
toddler
How to Encourage Your Child’s Interests
Do you remember one particular class or book or person who shaped your future career? In third grade we did a unit on penguins. I loved it. Like, LOVED IT. So I started seeking out any book or show - or whatever - that had to do with penguins. I looked up how old you had to be to volunteer at the aquarium. I found out that the people who feed the penguins at the aquarium are called marine biologists, so I pegged that as my future career. Spoiler: I’m not a marine biologist. I found out …
Current Favorites
Favorite Non-Electronic Toddler Toys
Like most moms, I cannot stand toys that make noise. Especially toys that make the same noise over and over and over. When I started to think about all of our favorite toys, I realized that they're all non-electronic toys. They don't need batteries, and they require a toddler to use imagination to play! I remember reading an article about toddler toys (I couldn't find it but will link it here if I do find the link!) that talked about the importance of imaginative play. Many electronic toys …
Crib Mattress Review: Newton Baby vs. Safety 1st
I never make a purchase without researching it about 900 times. Let me take that back... When I'm standing in line at HomeGoods, I will 100% make a purchase on a whim. Otherwise, I will research it approximately 900 times. There was no exception to this when I was putting together our baby registry, and especially when it came to the crib and mattress. An old furniture-store commercial always rings in my head: "You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping." I wanted our daughter to be …
Motherhood at 18 Months
18 months old was a little over a month ago, but for some reason I thought I had already published this post. Whoops! Time seriously is just flying. My teeny tiny newborn baby is now a walking, talking, opinion-holding toddler. Overall, motherhood at this stage is both easier and harder than it has been at other stages. Play tea set | Toddler writing table | Light pink chair set (also comes in light blue) When I vlogged last, we were at a really rough point. E wasn't yet communicating as …
